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13 Aug 2012

Mobile Courts

As per the constitutional provisions, primary responsibility to set up Subordinate Courts rests with the respective State Government. With a view to make judicial system accessible to remote and backward regions, several State Governments, including the Government of Andhra Pradesh, have set up mobile courts for handling certain categories of cases. Besides, the Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008 was enacted by Parliament for establishment of Gram Nyayalayas at the intermediate Panchayat level with a view to

providing access to justice to citizens at their doorsteps. The Act has come into force with effect from 2nd October, 2009. In terms of Section 3(1) of the Act, it is for the State Governments to establish GramNyayalayas in consultation with the respective High Courts. The Act authorizes the Gram Nyayalaya to hold mobile court outside its headquarters. The Central Government has been encouraging the States in this regard by providing financial assistance within the prescribed norms both for non-recurring expenses for setting up of Gram Nyayalayas and for meeting the cost of recurring expenses for running these Gram Nyayalayas for the first three years.

Giving this information in written reply to a question in the RajyaSabha today, Shri SalmanKhurshid, Minister of Law & Justice said that as per information available, 166 Gram Nyayalayas have been notified by various State Governments. Out of which 151 Gram Nyayalayas have started functioning. However, no Gram Nyayalaya is reported to have been notified in the State of Andhra Pradesh. State-wise progress is as under: